In the context of the upcoming elections in Kenya in August 2017, debates on Twitter have highlighted the gap between the political elite’s electoral agenda and the population’s daily struggles of...Show moreIn the context of the upcoming elections in Kenya in August 2017, debates on Twitter have highlighted the gap between the political elite’s electoral agenda and the population’s daily struggles of surviving and coping with harsh realities. Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, recently launched an online campaign calling for voters registration – #UhuruDabChallenge – which was met with fierce protestations online, formalised under the #DabOfShame. This thesis will analyse the framing of this clash of priorities on Twitter by looking at the spread and use of one hashtag in particular – #DabOfShame – and one of the subtheme the #KOT community highlighted, that is the country’s hunger and drought crises. Indeed, analysing the #DabOfShame highlights the gap between the state discourse and the subsequent online responses, which has a huge impact on the way pertaining daily issues and their realities are depicted online. In particular, looking at Kenya’s most salient and recurrent difficulties – the hunger and drought crises – pinpoints how the users shed light on the problems, thus “framing” an opposition of concerns, and pushing the political elite to address them. Interestingly, the users and content analysis of this specific hashtag give insights into the political socialisation processes that Twitter enables and the platform it provides for the Kenyan connected generation to express its grievances in the everyday context. Eventually, this can inform discussions on the possibility of social media to influence the government’s agenda and produce a united common front in a context of political polarisation. This, however, also reveals concerning trends in the way Twitter is used by the political elite in Kenya, in particular by its president, which suggests that social media are possibly developing into new podiums on which political legitimacy is fought and gained.Show less
The United States, commonly recognised as the world leader in the self-defined 'war on terror', publishes a 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations'list annually. This list, together with classifications...Show moreThe United States, commonly recognised as the world leader in the self-defined 'war on terror', publishes a 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations'list annually. This list, together with classifications from various other nations and institutions provide an understanding for the international community regarding the status of terrorist organisations worldwide. From 1997, the United States has categorised Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation following the 1983 bombing on an American marine barracks in Lebanon. This thesis provides an analysis of the perceived transition of Hezbollah from a terrorist organisation to a functioning and legitimate political party in order to debate the impact of international terror classifications and the need for more greatly recognised definitions for the term 'terrorist'.Show less
For years, academics have focused on colonial past of Caribbean islands, not looking into what became of these non-sovereign jurisdictions. For this reason, this thesis focuses on the post-colonial...Show moreFor years, academics have focused on colonial past of Caribbean islands, not looking into what became of these non-sovereign jurisdictions. For this reason, this thesis focuses on the post-colonial relationship between a colonizer and colony, looking at the influence of smallness and non-sovereignty on the quality of governance. The relationship at hand is that within the Dutch Kingdom, between Aruba and the Netherlands; one that is constantly fluctuating. As Aruba has just celebrated 30 years of being an autonomous country within the Kingdom, it is a good time to reflect on the relationship, its influences and the quality of governance. It is apparent that there are also many advantages and disadvantages in the relationship; where each other’s support internationally is an advantage, and the Aruban mal-governance in the finance department is arguably the biggest disadvantage. The thesis elaborates on the influences of smallness, non-sovereignty and good governance on countries in general as well as on Aruba. The thesis ends combining all influences and concluding that there is no good governance in the jurisdiction and that its sovereignty is a bigger influence than smallness, as the island’s size cannot be changed. By using scholarly works, as well as media articles, archives and personal interviews conducted by the author herself; the thesis opens way for new research on the topic, as well as highlights the need for more discourse on the matter.Show less
Research master thesis | African Studies (research) (MA)
open access
This research focuses on people’s perception of, and attitudes towards, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). It is the result of four months of fieldwork in Ruhija,...Show moreThis research focuses on people’s perception of, and attitudes towards, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). It is the result of four months of fieldwork in Ruhija, Rubanda County, one of the four appointed areas in Uganda where gorilla tourism is established. This qualitative study aims at understanding how different stakeholders perceive the gorilla as an animal, whether that be a conservation goal or an economic income, or an anthropomorphized species. The analysis will develop by focusing on these three conceptual domains, namely, political, economic and anthropomorphised. Further, in order to understand how different stakeholders have different perceptions and attitudes, the research participants are divided into four groups. The stakeholders groups involve the local community, the entrepreneurs, the conservationists and the tourists. By doing so, the research will present the point of view of local, national and international actors. The main argument of the thesis revolves around the discourses about mountain gorillas. More specifically, how international actors have imposed western-centred discourses about wildlife conservation in order to ensure gorilla conservation. Along with national actors, who have later adopted the same discourses, to guarantee the development of the tourism industry.Show less
The invention of the Web has influenced the world drastically. Talking in real-time to someone on the other side of the planet is no longer an issue. Also, consuming information has become a lot...Show moreThe invention of the Web has influenced the world drastically. Talking in real-time to someone on the other side of the planet is no longer an issue. Also, consuming information has become a lot easier and quicker; think about checking the weather or the news while you are waiting at the bus stop. Network technology has affected almost every part of our lives and therefore, expectations are high when it comes to what the Web can do more. Evidence are the many claims about the Web being a democratizing force in the case of politics for instance. The main question in this thesis is: To what extent does the Web as a thoroughly ‘democratic’ medium with its two-way traffic, helps the exchange of knowledge and thus is contributing to a democratic system in politics as much as its formal characteristics appear to promise? To answer this main question, this thesis will treat several questions first: What does a 'democratizing force' mean? And: What does it mean when someone claims the Web to be a democratizing force? With help from recent case studies, news articles and research in the field of new media, I tried to find answers to these questions.Show less
De Meiji-periode bracht vele veranderingen met zich mee, zowel politiek als maatschappelijk. Het omvallen van het Tokugawa shogunaat had ook grote gevolgen voor religieuze groeperingen, waaronder...Show moreDe Meiji-periode bracht vele veranderingen met zich mee, zowel politiek als maatschappelijk. Het omvallen van het Tokugawa shogunaat had ook grote gevolgen voor religieuze groeperingen, waaronder de boeddhistische organisaties. Naast het feit dat deze niet meer de privileges hadden die ze wel genoten onder het shogunaat, werd er ook een hoop materieel, waaronder tempels, kunst en grondgebied, goed beschadigd tijdens de haibutsu kishaku 廃仏毀釈 . Sommige vormen en organisaties binnen het Boeddhisme, zoals Shugendo (de praktijk van het verkrijgen van niet-alledaagse krachten in het berggebied), werden verboden, ceremonies werden verboden of overgenomen. Een echter nog belangrijker gevolg voor het Boeddhisme in Japan toendertijd was het inhoudelijk aanpassen aan de moderniteit, Westers gedachtegoed en het nieuwe geïmporteerde concept religie wat tot voor kort nog niet bestond in Japan. In deze thesis wordt gekeken wat er door deze reorganisaties van het rituele landschap allemaal is veranderd binnen het Japanse Boeddhisme en wat Japans Boeddhisme überhaupt inhoudt. Vervolgens wordt ook het gedachtegoed van enkele geleerden besproken, wiens gedachtegoed invloed heeft gehad op de shinbutsu bunri en de manier waarop de situatie van het Japanse Boeddhisme door deze scheiding is veranderd. Dit zijn Inoue Enryō 井上円了(1858-1919) en in iets mindere mate Shimaji Mokurai島地 黙雷 (1838-1911).Show less
An account of Mozi's political philosophy from the perspective of his synthesis of power and knowledge through the formulation of a meritocratic bureaucracy designed to employ and empower officials...Show moreAn account of Mozi's political philosophy from the perspective of his synthesis of power and knowledge through the formulation of a meritocratic bureaucracy designed to employ and empower officials with the appropriate skills and expertise for governing.Show less
Although the general image of the classical Chinese book the Zhuangzi is that it is unique because of its unpolitical character, this research tries to find out whether this is true by examning the...Show moreAlthough the general image of the classical Chinese book the Zhuangzi is that it is unique because of its unpolitical character, this research tries to find out whether this is true by examning the political character of the most important figure in the Zhuangzi: the sage. The sage embodies the entire philosophy of the Zhuangzi, and although he can not be said to be a political charachter, his man characteristics can definitely be used for political purposes. A good example of this usage is the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who, regarding the characteristics 'facilitating performance', acts strikingly in accordance with the Zhuangzian sage.Show less
This thesis examines how English elite print media represent Doi Takako and Renho Murata; both women who have participated or participate at prominent positions in Japanese politics. The purpose is...Show moreThis thesis examines how English elite print media represent Doi Takako and Renho Murata; both women who have participated or participate at prominent positions in Japanese politics. The purpose is to shed light onto the notion that media may contribute to a social construction of gender for these Japanese political women, by analysing how their femininity within a leading position is discussed and portrayed by media discourse. This is done by answering the question whether representations of Doi Takako and Renho Murata by English elite print media be regarded as an anti-Japanese political discourse on gender.Show less
Commonly recognized as the oldest cosmological text in Thai, the Traiphum Phra Ruang has traditionally enjoyed considerable prestige in Thailand. However, this is not only because of the text’s...Show moreCommonly recognized as the oldest cosmological text in Thai, the Traiphum Phra Ruang has traditionally enjoyed considerable prestige in Thailand. However, this is not only because of the text’s literary or historical relevance. As the text outlines the origin of kingship and the moral basis for Theravada Buddhist society through describing the workings of kamma, it has proven to be a valuable source of theoretical legitimacy for the Thai monarchy. This thesis examines how the text has been used for the restoration of king Bhumibol’s legitimacy after the student revolts in the 1970s. The following argues that this has been done through a tacit promotion of the text as the prime symbol of Thai cultural heritage and national identity, and the inculcation of the norms and values displayed within it by presenting the text as a tradition.Show less
With the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in the 1990s the Japanese Government introduced new policies for the acceptance of foreign labour into society. Whereas...Show moreWith the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in the 1990s the Japanese Government introduced new policies for the acceptance of foreign labour into society. Whereas formal policies for admitting skilled foreign workers were introduced, a formal policy for admitting unskilled foreign workers has been lacking up until this date. Instead, the respective workers came to enter Japan through certain backdoor policies and have been doing so ever since. This thesis will provide insight into the reason why this is by explaining the impact that conservative political elites have upon immigration policymaking. It will reveal that their presence forms an obstacle in formalizing any such policy to admit unskilled foreign workers, whereas continuing to admit them through backdoor channels only enhances vulnerability to exploitation.Show less
Art provides a reflection on political and social conditions and for that reason, has been a tool used to express opposition. In communist Poland, film became a popular means for engaging in...Show moreArt provides a reflection on political and social conditions and for that reason, has been a tool used to express opposition. In communist Poland, film became a popular means for engaging in political discourse that would otherwise not be allowed. This thesis seeks to explore the role of art and film in Poland between the 1950s and 1970s, using Andrzej Wajda's film "Man of Marble" as a case study.Show less
Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has experienced varying degrees of conflict. Increasingly conflict in the country has developed along religious lines, and is often perceived as a North...Show moreSince its independence in 1960, Nigeria has experienced varying degrees of conflict. Increasingly conflict in the country has developed along religious lines, and is often perceived as a North versus South dichotomy. This thesis aims to understand the conflict between religious groups in Nigeria through an examination of state-society relations and a case study that focuses on the Christian Association of Nigeria. State-society relations refers to the interaction of the governing elite, including all branches of government, with the general population. As such, the thesis argues, that the way this relationship is formed has consequences for politics and in turn influences the type and form of conflict in a country - whether the conflict be physical or psychological.Show less
Deze thesis gaat over de politieke carrière van Abraham Kuyper en richt zich op de inhoud, structuur en toepassing van zijn zelf ontwikkelde zedelijke politiek voor de oprichting van de ARP in 1879.
